"The death of a titan leaves behind a heroine widow: a goodbye to Jorge Raygada." That was the headline of a Venezuelan newspaper the day after my father died. It was the last tribute to a humanist, journalist, politician, who dedicated his life to promoting social welfare and democratic values in Latin America. To me, it was also a goodbye to the best dad in the world, a … [Read more...] about What does it mean to be a father?
Diversity
Data for Equality
In the realm of public polices, data is a great diagnostician. Much like x-rays and blood tests, data helps to identify where the problems lie and to uncover their causes. Without such information, how can we possibly treat our social ills? Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB), a global annual landmark dedicated to increasing … [Read more...] about Data for Equality
No great equalizer
As we have struggled to navigate the current crisis, we have heard the coronavirus referred to as a “great equalizer”. These claims, however, were swiftly rebuked. While the virus can indeed affect any one of us, we know that individuals with preexisting medical conditions are extremely vulnerable. And pre-existing social and economic inequalities can be just as devastating. … [Read more...] about No great equalizer
Exposure and Inequalities: African Descendants During COVID-19
Initial evidence that COVID-19 is reaching Afro descendant communities in Latin America is growing. Statistics in Brazil show that Afro-Brazilians are more likely to have severe respiratory symptoms that are lethal (more than 20%), while the Colombian Pacific coast, with a large Afro-Colombian and indigenous population, registered the first cases of coronavirus weeks ago, and … [Read more...] about Exposure and Inequalities: African Descendants During COVID-19
The 2020 Pandemic: The Need for Urgent, Culturally Appropriate Responses for Indigenous Peoples
COVID-19 disproportionately affects indigenous peoples. This presents a major health challenge requiring immediate responses that account for indigenous peoples’ diverse cultural and linguistic contexts. In Latin America, nearly 53 million people of the more than 700 indigenous groups face a myriad of preexisting adverse conditions, such as high levels of poverty and other … [Read more...] about The 2020 Pandemic: The Need for Urgent, Culturally Appropriate Responses for Indigenous Peoples